Orlando Hernandez has never been shy about giving his opinion on anything. But ask El Duque about the Yankees’ decision to pitch him tonight instead of last night – meaning he will miss this weekend’s crucial series in Boston – and he clams up like he’s protecting state secrets.

“I’m not talking about that,” the right-hander said before last night’s game against Toronto. When asked specifically whether the decision was his or manager Joe Torre’s, he said: “That’s a team thing. I don’t have to talk to you about that. If you want to know, go ask Joe.”

The short version of the story is as follows: Hernandez threw just 68 pitches over three innings Friday against archrival Boston, a start cut short by rain. But rather than start El Duque last night on short rest, the Yankees decided to keep their most reliable starter on his normal schedule.

When asked if he felt more comfortable pitching in his normal turn, Hernandez said: “Yes. That’s my job. My routine is my job.”

It’s unclear exactly who made this call. Torre had said he made the decision, feeling that Hernandez was more comfortable that way. But yesterday, when George Steinbrenner was asked whether he would’ve liked to have seen Hernandez face Boston, he answered: “Whatever El Duque wants to do is OK with me. He’s a good man.”

And he’s a great pitcher, a perfect 8-0 since rejoining the rotation, with a sterling 2.51 ERA. But he’s also a creature of habit, and coming off major surgery. It’s clear Torre was reticent about doing anything to shake up El Duque’s rhythm, especially considering the way he’s been pitching.

The end result, of course, is that Esteban Loaiza started last night against the Blue Jays, leaving Mike Mussina and Javier Vazquez to open the series in Beantown, and opening a gaping hole for the series finale Sunday.

The Yankees could use Loaiza, but he is 0-2 with a bloated 8.46 ERA since being acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline for Jose Contreras. When asked whether he would have relished a chance to pitch this Sunday in Fenway Park, Hernandez said, “That’s what I’m here for. I’m here to work.”

But now in the biggest remaining games of their regular season, the Yankees will be without their best big-game starter, whose performances have exceeded all expectations – except his own.

“Why not?” Hernandez asked, stunned that anybody else could have expected less than perfection from him. “I work every day; I train every day. Why not? If the results are there, it’s for a reason.”